Chinese swordsmanship

Chinese swordsmanship
	Sword-sharpening picture (礪劍圖) by Huang Ji, c. 15th century
Also known as	jianshu
Focus	The art of fighting with various types of swords
Country of origin	Western Zhou
Famous practitioners	Tai-chi Swords, Emei Swords, Wudang Swords

Last updated October 21, 2024

Chinese swordsmanship, also known as jianshu, refers to various types of swordsmanship native to China and is a part of Chinese martial arts practice. Chinese swordsmanship dates back over two thousand years. Chinese swordsmanship, integral to both traditional Chinese culture and martial arts, encompasses facets of Zen and philosophy, reflecting moral and physical unity within Chinese martial arts, while also pervading ancient Chinese culture, philosophy, and art.^[1]

Chinese swordsmanship is now widely practiced worldwide and respected for its effectiveness as a martial art and its cultural and aesthetic value. This martial art symbolises Chinese tradition and philosophical wisdom, linking ancient traditions with modern practices in martial arts communities worldwide.

History and origins

Chinese swordsmanship has evolved over millennia from ancient ceremonial practices to a refined martial art deeply integrated into cultural and philosophical traditions.

The sword was first developed in the Western Zhou dynasty, but it was only used as a self-defense weapon. In the Spring and Autumn period, it was used as a weapon on the battlefield, and the widespread adoption of swords in warfare was driven by their flexibility and portability, consequently shaping the evolution of swordsmanship techniques.^[2]

During the Han dynasty, as the use of swords in warfare diminished, the populace began engaging in martial arts training as a form of military reserve. By the late Han period, this martial training evolved into a form of entertainment, with swordsmanship becoming a non-military performance art.^[3] The widespread practice among literati and warriors of showcasing their skills through sword fighting contributed to significant advancements in sword techniques. According to the Book of the Former Han, thirty-eight- chapters on fencing methods were composed during this era, though these texts were unfortunately lost over time.^[4]

In the Tang dynasty, sword dancing became a kind of social atmosphere, and friends also danced swords during banquets. Unlike the practical fighting techniques used in war, Tang swordsmanship evolved into a more artistic form, often demonstrated through sword dancing. Although these highly developed performances were different from the actual attack and defense routines later, they laid an important foundation for the future development of Chinese swordsmanship. The art of sword dance in the Tang dynasty provided an important prerequisite for the later development of sword technique.^[5]

In the Ming dynasty, the sword was still frequently used as martial art by common people. However, due to the development of other weapons such as artillery, the use of swords was rarely seen in the military.^[6] Many works show that sword skills in the Ming dynasty had reached a very high level. The History of the Ming Dynasty records the inheritance and development of some swordsmanship. For example, Xu Fang, a famous hermit in Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province, used his sword to fight for justice for his people.^[6]

Major genres of Chinese swordsmanship

Chinese swordsmanship has evolved into many schools during its development. Among the various genres of swordsmanship, three stand out for their rich heritage and distinctive philosophies: Taijijian, Wudang Sword, and Emei Sword.

Taijijian

Taijijian is an integral part of Tai Chi (Taijiquan) practice, characterised by its slow, flowing, and graceful movements that prioritise balance, coordination, and relaxation. The practice of Taijijian is more than physical exercise; it is also a form of meditation that seeks to enhance the practitioner's health and martial abilities.^[7] In Taijijian, the sword is guided by intention ("yi"), emphasising harmony between the weapon and the body.^[7] Regarded not only as a martial art, Taijijian is also viewed as a cultural and philosophical expression, often referred to as the "soul of Chinese martial arts." Its practice involves a deep understanding of the interplay between the physical and the mental, the external and the internal, embodying the philosophical principles of yin and yang in its techniques and forms.^[7]

Wudang sword

Originating from the sacred Wudang Mountains, a bastion of Taoist tradition, the Wudang Sword style is a blend of Daoist cultural principles and martial techniques. The art of Wudang Sword incorporates strengths from various first styles while embracing the spiritual aspects of Taoism, emphasising the cultivation of harmonious yin and yang energy.^[8] Practitioners of Wudang Sword begin with internal strength training (neigong) to regulate the body's qi, aiming to achieve unity between the body and the sword.^[8] Techniques are characterised by lightness, agility, and speed, focusing on approaching the opponent quickly and overcoming them with finesse rather than brute force.^[8]

Emei sword

The Emei Sword style, originating from the Emei Mountain and associated with Taoist martial arts, boasts a history spanning over 500 years. It is a discipline that favors the use of the sword as the primary weapon, employing a strategy of overcoming strength with softness.^[9] The Emei Sword technique emphasizes the variability and subtlety of swordplay, with frequent changes in posture and a variety of unpredictable moves. Practitioners are required to possess a high degree of physical flexibility and coordination, reflecting the style's intricate and refined approach to combat.^[9]

Qingping sword

Qingping Sword originated from Taoism, was originally just a high-quality straight sword name, and later integrated the strengths of many martial arts schools, while using Taoism and martial arts theory to form a unique swordsmanship system. The Qingping sword system is based on proven knowledge of Chinese swordsmanship.^[10] Qingping swordsmanship is based on the concepts of Wudang sword, utilising clear rhythms, rapid turns to rise and fall, and combining hardness and softness.^[10] Qingping swordsmanship often involves crossing movements, in which the sword goes one way, the body goes one way, and the legs go the other way.^[11] Qingping swordsmanship has a unique style, elegant and extraordinary, rich forms and routines, retreat to advance, to advance to retreat.

Basic elements and training methods

A kind of swordsmanship Ni Lin Shi .png — A kind of swordsmanship

Basic elements of swordsmanship includes stabbing, cutting, picking, flicking and chopping, each of which requires the perfect combination of body, footwork and swordsmanship. These sword methods are combined for attack and defense. Swordsmanship is largely based on the training of the wrist, and the offensive and defensive postures must be coordinated.^[12] And Chinese swordsmanship requires proper body alignment, structure, and strength. The practitioner's body, mind and sword must be one.

Basic training requires repetition of each movement. Since the sword itself has a certain weight, after basic training, weight exercises will be added, through repeated execution of individual movement positions to complete in order to let the body find a sense of balance and power.^[12] For the practitioners of swordplay, the term "Six harmonies" has been developed, which is composed of three internal harmonies and three external harmonies, which are played through slow conscious breathing and coordinated sword shapes, combining to produce a state of unity of the sword body.^[12] The three internal harmonies are heart (xin), mind (yi), and energy ( qi ), which need to be practiced in a relaxed and calm manner without releasing energy.^[12] In order to achieve external harmony, quick eyes, quick swordplay and quick pace must be trained. By practicing Six harmonies well could use swordsmanship at a higher level.

Cultural significance

The sword, known as "the weapon of the gentleman", occupies an important place in Chinese culture. Chinese swordsmanship culture revolves around the warrior's philosophy and skill system.^[10] In military culture throughout history, the sword symbolised the warrior's soul.

Chinese sword culture idealizes sword skill and regards swords as a virtue and a symbol of personal social and cultural accomplishment.^[10] The sword embodies the spirit of the Chinese people and has been praised in art works and legends for thousands of years. Swordsmanship is practiced not only to improve health and fighting skills, but also to develop character and personality. The traditional Chinese view is that only those with excellent character can achieve excellence in swordsmanship.

The chivalry and warrior spirit of ancient China were intertwined with the ideals of swordplay, and knights and brandished swords were the basis of legends as well as the embodiment of reality.^[10] Today, the practice of swordplay is still linked to the ancient spirit and knowledge of swordplay, maintaining a connection to the past while constantly evolving with modern practice.

Modern practices and global influence

After the founding of People's Republic of China, the state began to pay attention to and promote the development of swordsmanship. In November 1953, the National Performance and Competition for Traditional Sports held in Tianjin, swordsmanship as an event of artistic performance and competition.^[13] During the Cultural Revolution, Chinese martial arts experts were persecuted, and training and competitions were halted until 1972, when Chinese martial arts began to revive.^[13] Beginning in the 1980s, the General Administration of Sport of China began to organize international and intercontinental sword competitions, such as the first International Tai Chi Invitational Competition held in Wuhan in 1984 and the first International Wushu Invitational Competition held in Xi' an in 1985.^[13] Since then, Chinese swordsmanship's international exchanges and influence have gradually increased. The Chinese government has also promoted Chinese swordsmanship worldwide by sending trainers and training foreign learners. Since the 1980s, the Chinese Wushu Academy and the Chinese Wushu Association have set up many training camps overseas, attracting a large number of foreign learners to learn Chinese swordsmanship. Practitioners of Chinese swordsmanship study traditional forms and adapt techniques for modern contexts, including self-defense and health and wellness programs. International seminars, workshops, and cultural exchange programs also play a significant role in the spread of Chinese swordsmanship knowledge.^[13]

Related Research Articles

Neijia is the collective name for the internal Chinese martial arts. It relates to those martial arts occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects. The distinction dates to the 17th century, but its modern application is due to publications by Sun Lutang, dating to the period of 1915 to 1928. Neijin is developed by using neigong or "internal changes", contrasted with waigong or "external exercises".

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. Tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. Often referred to as "meditation in motion," tai chi aims to concentrate and balance the body's qi, providing benefits to mental and physical health.

The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimetre (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams. There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.

Baguazhang is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism.

Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms kung fu, kuoshu or wushu, are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" of martial arts. Examples of such traits include Shaolinquan (少林拳) physical exercises involving All Other Animals (五形) mimicry or training methods inspired by Old Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. Styles that focus on qi manipulation are called internal, while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness are called external. Geographical associations, as in northern and southern, is another popular classification method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swordsmanship</span> Skills of a person versed in the art of the sword

Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills and techniques used in combat and training with any type of sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword. The formation of the English word "swordsman" is parallel to the Latin word gladiator, a term for the professional fighters who fought against each other and a variety of other foes for the entertainment of spectators in the Roman Empire. The word gladiator itself comes from the Latin word gladius, which is a type of sword.

Historical European martial arts (HEMA) are martial arts of European origin, particularly using arts formerly practised, but having since died out or evolved into very different forms.

The Chen-style tai chi is a Northern Chinese martial art and the original form of tai chi. Chen-style is characterized by silk reeling, alternating fast and slow motions, and bursts of power.

The term Italian school of swordsmanship is used to describe the Italian style of fencing and edged-weapon combat from the time of the first extant Italian swordsmanship treatise (1409) to the days of classical fencing.

Taijijian is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art tai chi. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional tai chi schools. The different family schools have various warmups, forms and fencing drills for training with the double-edged sword known as jian.

Huaquan is a Chinese martial art in the changquan family. It is believed to have originated during the Liu Song dynasty near Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province.

There are hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts, each with their own sets of techniques and ideas. The various movements in kung fu, most of which are imitations of the fighting styles of animals, are initiated from one to five basic foot positions: normal upright posture and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse riding, and snake.

Various martial arts have been attributed to or associated with Zhou Tong, the archery teacher of the Song dynasty general Yue Fei. This is because assorted wuxia novels and folk legends portray him as being either a Shaolin monk or a lay disciple of Shaolin. Some of these skills range from mastery of the bow, double swords and Chinese spear to that of Wudang hard qigong, Chuojiao boxing and even magical X-ray eyes. However, the oldest historical record that mentions his name only says he taught archery to Yue Fei. Nothing is ever said about him knowing or teaching a specific style of Chinese martial arts.

Stephan Berwick is an American author, martial artist, and actor known for his scholarly research on traditional Chinese martial arts – particularly Chen-style taijiquan, and roles in early Yuen Wo-ping Hong Kong Action films.

The World Jianshu League is an organization dedicated to preserving the art of the jian, a traditional Chinese sword, through organized competition, discussion, and documentation. The WJL consists of a growing number of wushu schools primarily situated in the United States. The league's main focus is to introduce a new form of sport competition using the jian, similar to sport fencing, or kendo, and thereby preserve, revive, and advance such jianshu concepts as can only be gained through one-on-one competition.

The Wudang School, sometimes also referred to as the Wu-Tang Clan, is a fictional martial arts school mentioned in several works of Chinese wuxia fiction. It is commonly featured as one of the leading orthodox schools in the wulin. It is named after the place it is based, the Wudang Mountains.

The Emei School is a fictional martial arts school mentioned in several works of wuxia fiction. It is commonly featured as one of the leading orthodox schools in the jianghu. It is named after the place where it is based, Mount Emei.

The Chicago Swordplay Guild is a modern school of swordsmanship and Western martial arts, and non-profit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It provides organized instruction in the study and practice of historical European swordplay, with a principal focus on the Italian school of swordsmanship and other martial arts of the 14th–17th centuries. Co-founded in 1999 by Gregory Mele and Mark Rector, the Chicago Swordplay Guild seeks to be consistent with the methodology of the ancient European fencing schools by combining scholarship and research into the teachings of the historical Masters, with the practical knowledge gained through solo and partnered drilling and fencing. Since techniques are taught in reference to how effective they would be in a real encounter, the Guild practices with an absolute emphasis on safety, control, competence, and skill at arms.

Wudang Sword is a body of Chinese straight sword (jian) techniques—famous in China—encompassed by the Wudangquan or internal martial arts.

Wudangquan is a class of Chinese martial arts. In contemporary China, Chinese martial arts styles are generally classified into two major groups: Wudang (Wutang), named after the Wudang Mountains; and Shaolin, named after the Shaolin Monastery. Whereas Shaolin includes many martial art styles, Wudangquan includes only a few arts that use the focused mind to control the body. This typically encompasses tai chi, xingyiquan and baguazhang, but must also include bajiquan and Wudang Sword. Although the name Wudang simply distinguishes the skills, theories and applications of the internal arts from those of the Shaolin styles, it misleadingly suggests these arts originated at the Wudang Mountains. The name Wudang comes from a popular Chinese legend that incorrectly purports the genesis of tai chi and Wudang Sword by an immortal, Taoist hermit named Zhang Sanfeng who lived in the monasteries of Wudang Mountain. Wudang quan is often used synonymously with Neijia, but Neijia is a broader term that also encompasses Aikido and Qigong, which are not Wudang quan.

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